Bail of Chinmoy Das suspended

The Chamber Court of Appellate Division has suspended the bail granted by High Court to former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in a treason case.

The order was issued on Tuesday by Justice Md. Rezaul Haque of the Appellate Division’s Chamber Court.

Senior lawyer M K Rahman represented Chinmoy Krishna Das in court, while Additional Attorney General Barrister Anik R Haque and Arshadur Rauf appeared for the state.

Last Wednesday, the Chamber Court initially suspended the High Court’s bail order for Chinmoy Krishna Das. However, the suspension was later withdrawn and a new date was set for rehearing the state’s appeal against the bail. At that hearing, the state’s lawyers informed the court that the Chamber Judge had decided to hear the accused’s legal counsel before issuing a final order.

Earlier that day, the High Court had granted bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das. Within hours, the state filed a petition seeking a stay on the bail, which led to the Chamber Court's immediate intervention.

On October 25 last year, Chinmoy Krishna Das led a large rally of the Sanatan (Hindu) community in Chattogram. Days later, on October 31, a case of sedition was filed against him, accusing him of desecrating the national flag. The case named 18 other individuals as co-accused.

Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested in Dhaka on November 25 in connection with the case. The following day, his bail plea was rejected by the Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate, who ordered him to be sent to jail.

Following the court’s order to send him to jail, violent clashes erupted in Chattogram between Chinmoy’s followers and members of the law enforcement agencies and legal community. During the unrest, government lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was fatally stabbed outside the court premises. Chinmoy Krishna Das has remained in prison since then.

On January 2 this year, Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court rejected another bail application filed by Chinmoy Das. Subsequently, he sought bail from the High Court.